Former Clayton town manager who shot himself after harassment claim dies
A spokeswoman says a Virginia town manager who shot himself in the head after a standoff with police has died.
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Christiansburg spokeswoman Melissa Powell says 53-year-old Steve Biggs died early Wednesday. Biggs had served as town manager for the small southwestern Virginia community since July.
Authorities said police found Biggs inside an apartment Tuesday with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
The shooting came a month after a 23-year-old Christiansburg woman went to court accusing Biggs of harassment. Biggs denied the woman's claims in interviews with The Roanoke Times last week and on Monday.
State police also investigated, but prosecutors found no probable cause to charge Biggs with stalking or any other crime.
Christiansburg Mayor Mike Barber said he and the town council are "heartbroken."
Before moving to Virginia, Biggs served as town manager of Clayton for 19 years.
"This tragedy has hit hard in Town Hall, where countless employees built their careers under Steve’s leadership," Clayton Deputy Town Manager Nancy Medlin said in a statement Tuesday, after hearing that Biggs had shot himself. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Steve’s wife and children."
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